Hi there! I'm your Secret Santa for the Rune Facty 4 Secrent Santa Event!
(And here’s my gift to you– a oneshot fic called, “To Stand in Your World.“ Actually, I didn’t know much at all about Amber, since I never courted her, and I knew even less about Ambrosia. But after checking out Amber’s wiki page, I learned that there’s actually a lot to Ambrosia; she’s a wonderfully rounded character that definitely needs more love! So, for my secret Santa Gift to you, I’ve decided to expand upon her story a bit. After watching Amber’s proposal event, I was struck with how bittersweet Ambrosia’s story was. Personally, I didn’t feel like it was quite over. I’m a sucker for happy endings and I figure, hey, what else is fanfic for? So I hope you like this little ‘what if’!)
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Every monster comes from The Forest of Beginnings. They awake in the warm sunlight, wrapped in the scent of the grass and the trees, an explosion of green being the first thing they see. Some of them wander to distant fields, exploring the far reaches of a seemingly endless world. Others, such as herself, choose to stay in the safety and the serenity of the forest. She remembers her first moments with fondness. Born as a butterfly monster, she immediately adored the light of the forest, the calm lake, and the soft grass dotted with colorful flowers. From the very start, she was certain that she belonged nowhere else. The forest was all she knew for a time, and it what a blissful time it was.
But then the memories came. She came.
A young girl, a human, with bravery that stretched impossibly beyond her small frame and soft voice, with a laugh like the wind and a smile like the sun. A girl who selflessly chose an eternal sleep for another that would never even know of her sacrifice. Memories from the life of this other began to pour into her, slowly but surely, and the butterfly realized that while she had a will of her own, the body she lived in was not fully hers. She had blended together with the shell of this girl, whose body had become corrupted after so many years of slumber in the magical forest. With a soul lying dormant to the point of complete stagnation in her body, the forest had sent a newborn soul into it, to animate the body once more. For a body that lived and yet did not move was a blemish in this forest of life, and the forces that be had moved to correct the error. And so the butterfly lived in this strange state; a body that was neither completely hers, nor the girl’s. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the life she was born with. What else could she do? Wake the girl? She hadn’t the faintest idea how. Even if she could, the cost would be dire for both of them. The girl would wake, but then what of herself? She would fall into that deep sleep, that still nothingness, and the spell on the girl would be broken, the sacrifice she made meaningless. Part of her felt sorry for the girl, but nothing could be done. So the butterfly guarded the memories of the girl, living quietly. As a simple butterfly, it was all she could do. The days passed and the butterfly grew to enjoy her strange existence in the forest. It was true that the memories would trouble her every so often, but the uncertainty and the worries dulled with time. The butterfly resigned herself to her fate as a smaller piece in a much larger puzzle she had no power or business solving. Yet, as the years passed, she found herself longing for a miracle. For someone who would come and wake the girl and split them apart.
She never dreamed her miracle would be so frightening. Another human came that day, with a gleaming sword swinging through the air like a scream, shattering the peace of the forest. And this human was nothing like the girl. He was fiery, and loud, and oh how angry that sword made her! She couldn’t help it; she attacked the human before she could even realize it, desperate to defend her home from this strange intruder. A monster she was, but still just a butterfly. She never stood a chance against such a strong being, even if it was a human. Her body ached all over. She was scared. Was this the end? Everything was going black…
Then everything was white. The vibrant colors of the forest were gone, along with the bustling life that once exploded everywhere around her. This strange place was quiet, and so still, and cold. It felt like she’d fallen into the lake, but a hundred times worse. Something was wrong. This wasn’t death. It was like a strange place between life and death. And something was shifting, she could feel it.
“Hello! My name’s Amber!”
She turned around so suddenly she almost made herself dizzy. The butterfly could hardly believe her ears, but there she was— the girl from her memories, smiling like she hadn’t a care in the world. It was baffling and endearing at the same time.
“What’s your name?” she asked cheerily.
“I… I… don’t have one,” the butterfly murmured.
Amber gaped, “You don’t have one?! Why not?!”
Unable to help it, she chuckled at Amber’s scandalized tone. What an expressive girl she was, just like in the memories… It was a shame they were only able to meet now, when their time together was at its end.
“I do not have a name because I am a monster. I was using your body for my own wishes. But now, I have been defeated, which means you and I are no longer connected. You are going to wake up very soon.”
The butterfly didn’t know how she knew, she just did. The girl’s life was rising up, slowly drifting away into the light of the living. Her own life was slowly being pulled down into the darkness. The injuries she sustained from the battle were too much; she would remove her corrupted influence from the girl’s shell, and then only Amber would remain.
“I’ll wake up?! Really?!” Amber cried ecstatically.
A spark of warmth ignited her chest at that; she knew more than anyone just how long Amber had been waiting to live again. Even so, the dread at what she knew would soon become of herself weighed her down, pulling at the corners of her tremulous smile.
“But wait!” Amber said, “What’ll happen to you then? If you were inside of me…”
The butterfly gave her a harsh glare. “There is nothing you can do. I am a monster, you are a human. We cannot both exist at the same time in the same body. I was only able to use you because your soul was asleep. Now that your soul is awake, I must leave your body. And when that happens, I… I will disappear.”
She bit her lip, forcing her tears away. “Even if you say that—”
“We can share!” she blurted.
“Yeah! Let’s share! If you can only be here when I’m asleep, then… Then we can take turns! I’ll go to sleep when you want to come out,” she said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
“That… But I… Is that even possible?”
Amber held out her hand. “We can try!”
From then on, she became a spectator to Amber’s life, mingling about in her heart even when Amber was awake to feel the sun and learn the ways of humans. It was a wonderful thing, the butterfly learned, to be human. The emotions they felt were confusing, but so rewarding. Curiosity, friendship, gratitude, and even the more negative emotions like anger, embarrassment, and sadness were all so strong, so new and amazing. But the strongest of them all, and the most fantastic, was love. Amber held love for many of the villagers, but there was one who was more special to her than them all. The man that saved her was kind and patient, and always made time for her. He would come to see her almost every day, a fresh picked flower in his hand. The butterfly certainly couldn’t blame Amber for falling for him. And although she knew in truth that the emotions were not fully her own, she reveled in the love that blossomed between him. She savored the pounding of her heart, the rush of blood to her cheeks, that wonderful sensation that felt like flying and spinning in circles and falling down all at the same time. To be in love was truly amazing, and the butterfly decided it was what she loved most about living a human life.
That’s when the trouble started. A part of the butterfly, a part she was scared to even acknowledge, began to wish that she could never leave this life. That she could live a life like this of her own, with her own body, and her own special someone to bring her flowers and smile adoringly at her. Soon, she found herself awake even when she wasn’t meant to be, and Amber lapsed into slumber more and more often as the days went by.
Dread, guilt, and fear driving her like never before, she went to the man to beg for his help. She knew what needed to be done. In order for Amber—loving, beautiful, selfless, sweet Amber—to truly live, her life had to be hers and hers alone. The time for sharing was over. This spectator’s life had been wonderful, but it was never meant to last. It was time to let go. For Amber.
It ended where it all began, in The Forest of Beginnings. Her true home. Butterflies belonged in the forest, after all. It was silly of her to think she could ever be human. She took a selfish comfort in seeing the man’s eyes welled with tears; the man she both loved and did not love. Amber would not remember her, but at least someone would. And Amber would be happy. Even if it wasn’t happily ever after for her own self, it would have to be enough. She could let go now.
“But still,” she found herself wishing as the dark swallowed her, “I wish I could have lived in the same world as Amber. I wish I could have stood beside her… and thanked her…”
And in a fraction of a second, she spun through time and the great circle of life, her soul flying through the cosmos, stopping abruptly in an all-too familiar place. She floated near the waterfall, seeing at once her new reflection. Her butterfly wings and antennae were gone, replaced with wavering light. She was reborn as a will of the wisp, a spirit of the forest itself. As the realization sunk in, her heart began to soar, climbing higher like an eagle on the wind. She had not died! She could live again, in this same world that Amber lived in! Even if she could not be human, even if Amber would not remember her, they would live. Their own lives, their own selves, together and apart all at once. As if on cue Amber and the man crossed over the fallen tree in front of the waterfall, none the wiser to the old friend that was only footsteps away. The ex-butterfly hovered closer to Amber with baited breath, drinking in what she was sure would be the last glimpse of her first and most precious friend.
And, like a ray of sunshine, Amber’s gaze fell her way. The spirit stilled, struck to the very core.
She could’ve shouted with joy and cried all at once. And she wished, painfully, to smile wider than the widest river in the land and run and embrace Amber.
But she couldn’t. Because even if she had her own self now, she was still a creature of the forest. She wasn’t meant to walk with humans, no matter how much she wanted it. She was meant to stay here, in the place where all monsters began. By herself.
“I… I’m alone,” she lamented, not even knowing how to speak in this new life.
“Aren’t you lonely all by yourself?” Amber replied.
The man spoke, calling out for Amber. She stalled for a moment.
“Hey, um…” she said, turning back to the wisp, “Wanna come with?”
She wanted to say yes, that she wanted to go with her more than anything she’d ever wanted in all of her lives. But the last time she’d accepted Amber’s invitation, it had almost meant the end of her. And she was never going to let that happen again. Even if it meant goodbye.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Amber said blithely, blissfully unaware.
And that was the way the wisp liked to remember her; happy and carefree, with a sunny smile always on her face.
Time began to flow again, and the wisp worked hard at building a new happiness. Her new form did enable her to still fly, which she was thankful for, but there were many things she could not do that she missed. Like run. Or laugh. Or pick flowers. Oh wait, but those were human things.
“How sad,” she laughed ruefully, “I can’t even cry anymore…”
It was raining hard that day. The wisp liked to believe that on days like this, the sky was crying tears she could not to soothe her sorrows. Amber would say something like that, she thought.
“Amber… I hope you’re happy.”
“Hellooooo?” came a voice through she patter of the raindrops.
“Heeeey, are you there? Are you there, um… butterfly monster?” she called with uncertainty.
Her face popped out between the brush, grinning. “It really is you! Oh, I’m so glad I found you!”
“W-what are you… doing here?” said the wisp. “And why? Can you see me?”
“Hmmm… Nope, can’t see ya. But I can hear ya!”
“But why are you here? You were supposed to forget me!”
“Well, I did, buuut… But Lest was all gloomy! And he kept telling me it was nothing, but it bothered me! So I asked Kiel what could be making him so sad, and Kiel thought it had something to do with how they thought I was possessed. And when I heard that, I couldn’t not know, so I asked him. And I kept asking him. And I kept asking and asking! And then eventually he cracked and told me everything.”
“So you… don’t remember me.” It was a pitiful and greedy thing to say, she knew that as soon as she’d said it. But she couldn’t help it, nor the disappointment that colored her tone.
“I may not remember, but it’s not like it didn’t happen! And, and, Lest told me the story so well it’s like I can remember it!” she frowned.
Ah, she was trying to make her feel better. She came to see her so that she wouldn’t feel alone. Amber was always doing that; always going to such lengths to make others feel special. It was what she loved most about her, and also the one thing she knew she could not tolerate.
“Thank you, Amber. I appreciate you coming to see me, but you shouldn’t be here. The forest can be very dangerous. You should go back to Selphia… Back where you belong.”
“You belong in Selphia too! That’s why I came here, to bring you back with me!”
“Amber, I can’t. Don’t you see? I’m a spirit of the forest. If I leave… I’ll die.”
“NO!!” she pouted, crocodile tears at the edges of her eyes. “I don’t want to be without my friend, even if I don’t remember you! If we can bring Venti back, we’re going to bring you back, too! Just you wait!”
Amber ran from the forest before she could say anything else. The wisp lingered between hope and cynicism, convinced that she would come back one day and certain that she never would the next.
“I’m baaaack!” came Amber’s call one day. She flew to her side faster than she’d ever flown before. When she came upon the clearing, she realized Amber was not alone. The entire town of Selphia was with her, Lest holding onto Amber’s hand tightly at the front of the crowd.
“Is she here?” Lest asked her, his eyes scanning the empty air in front of him.
“Yeah!” Amber piped. “Okay everyone, let’s do this!”
“Amber… what is going on? What are you doing?”
“So uh, how should we start?” Kiel asked.
“Lemme tell her what’s gonna happen first,” Amber said.
“It came to us after we talked about it for a while,” Amber began. “See… You and I were able to do all the things we did because we wished it, right? It’s how I took you with me back at the start, and how you started taking up more of my time. Because you wished that you could live your own life, you started to take one. And it was how you were able to leave in the end. You wished for me to live my own life so much that you were able to give mine back to me. So we decided, we’re gonna wish as hard as we can for you to get your body back! We’re gonna give shape to a new dream, too!”
“Amber, you couldn’t possibly do that. You can’t just wish a body into existence.”
“Uh, news flash! You can. Venti did it. Alrighty everyone, join hands!”
One by one the villagers linked their hands together, Amber guiding them to form a great circle that surrounded her. Magic itself began to spill from them, surrounding them all in a sparkling blue light, swirling around the circle. She turned to look at each villager, none of them seeing her, but all of them smiling. Were they really going to do this? Could it really work?
“I want us to be friends. For real this time!” Amber beamed.
“One of these days, I’m gonna make you believe one of those dumb rumors!” Kiel teased.
“E-e-even if you are a ghost… Y-you’re still one of Amber’s friends, s-so I’m going to give you a second chance!” Forte stuttered.
“Hey man, my stuff isn’t regular junk!” Bado chastised.
“Oh dear, it must’ve been hard all by yourself. Let us help you,” said Lin Fa.
“I am wanting to race you to the bathhouse again, yes?” Xiao Pai cheered.
“You can help me and Amber solve mysteries whenever you want!” Illuminata winked.
“A life without good food to eat? Oh you poor thing!!! You must come back at once!” Porcoline wailed.
“I’ll write a song, just for you!” Margaret offered.
Volkanon opened his mouth to speak, but instead burst into tears.
“Hey, Amber’s really sad without you, ya know?” said Doug.
“Everyone misses you, dear, even if we didn’t know you well…” Granny Blossom frowned.
“Even if we didn’t know you, we don’t just save the people we like,” Doctor Jones said.
“Selphia is home to anyone who wants to be there,” Dylas said.
“Wishes can do more than you think!” Nancy smiled.
“Yeah! So let’s give it all our might!” shouted Vishnal.
“For Amber, and for our new friend!” cried Clorica.
The blue light swelled around them, circling faster and faster, until it formed a dome above their heads. Amber squeezed her eyes shut, the others following suit.
“Okay you guys,” Lest called, “This is it! Pour all your power into it!”
A booming voice joined the fray, bouncing from tree to tree.
“How about I lend a hand?”
High in the clouds, Ventuswill glided towards the clearing, bathed in the same blue glow. With a loud cry, she spread her wings, and and the light formed a beam that struck the wisp. It was joined by the other strands of magic as the dome collapsed to funnel into the single pillar of light. At that moment, the wisp felt it all; the magic and the hopes of the villagers, all of it flooding every part of her being like a bolt of lightning. Acceptance, understanding, and love, so much love that she felt like she was about to overflow. She wavered under the immense force of it all, almost scared that she would shatter. They really cared for her. They really wanted her there!
She could belong in Selphia after all!
“Everyone!!” came her cry, and then there was a blinding flash of light. When her senses returned, she noticed something was different. For one, she was no longer floating. Secondly, she had a body. A real body, all her own.
“Oh my gosh, we did it!” Kiel shrieked, beaking the silence.
Like a damn had broken, the whole crowd erupted into cheers, the girls jumping up and down, save for Blossom who was currently wiping tears from her eyes. Volkanon had started his own waterworks up again. And Amber didn’t even waste a second before breaking the circle and jumping on top of her. The ground was hard, the grass was itchy, and she knew she’d have bruises from being tackled. And she loved it.
“Yaaaaaaaaay!!! We did it, we did it, you’re really here! This is the best day ever!!”
She took a deep breath—goodness, she could actually breathe—and did the most natural thing she could do; she wrapped her arms tightly around Amber and smiled.
“Yes! I… I am here! I’m really here!” she wept.
And from that day, a new life began. Her newest (and hopefully last) body was a bit different from her first. She was no longer monster, but not quite human, either. Similar to Amber, she was a strange mix of both. Her hair remained a dark green, and her eyes the same topaz hue, but the shape of her features themselves had become more human. Her violet and midnight wings only appeared when she wanted them to, and she wore human clothes as opposed to being draped in flora. The bulb-like antennae on her head shrunk, which Amber insisted was “adorable”. The changes took some time getting used to, but they were most definitely welcome changes. If she had to choose which change she liked the best, however, it was that she had finally been given the one thing she’d never had, even when she lived as Amber’s shadow: a name. This time, her name was hers and only hers. She didn’t have to share a life with Amber any longer. But things had a funny way of working out, and the ex-butterfly ex-wisp found that there were some things she was eager to share with Amber. Jokes, laughter, adventure. Snacks and late night talks, and, thanks to Illuminata’s generosity, even a home. Amber said they could be sisters. Siblings were a new concept to her, but if it was something Amber wanted, then she was happy to oblige. And according to Porcoline and Margaret’s insistence, you really could make someone part of your family just because you liked them. How it was different from friendship she still couldn’t quite grasp, but she felt she was getting there, step by step.
“Ambrosia, c’mon!” came the call of her newest family member as she raced up the stairs. “We’re gonna go swimming today!”
“But I don’t know how to swim!” she cried incredulously.
“I know. That’s why I’m gonna teach you!”
There were countless things to learn in her new life, and endless possibilities for the future that she never would have had living in the forest. It was almost daunting sometimes. But she knew that she could handle whatever this new life would throw at her. And even if she couldn’t, she didn’t have to face it all by herself, because she wasn’t alone. She was never alone. She would never be alone again.
And for that, for Amber, she was eternally grateful.
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(Wow, that was… long. But I wanted to sum up Ambrosia’s story to sort of show her thought process. These are the memories that pass through her head right around the time she’s reborn as a wisp, and then again when Amber and Lest’s wishes are strong enough to turn her back into a living person/humanoid monster type thing. Sort of like the defining moments of her life. Anyway, I hope you liked it, and I’m sorry about it being late. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!)
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